I am currently using the Telegraph's style book, no not the latest in dress sense from Italian Fashion Week, but a guide to grammar, wording and layout of language - their writing style and use - used at the newspaper. Prospective journalists can check exactly how the newspaper's editors expect to see a person's name mentioned for the second time in the article (for example: Mr. Smith said, not Smith said and the first mention should be in full) and what their preferences are on the use of the word 'that'. Of course, some of this is specific to this newspaper, but it also contains general remarks around grammar and punctuation, the use of might vs may, a particularly interesting read.

Although I was referring to it for a journalistic item, it struck me that much of it would be relevant for any kind of writing. On careful review of my own wording, I realised how easy it is for your own style to contain common grammatical errors, which are almost 'acceptable' within common spoken word, but would jump out in the written form as a mistake.

It will take some time to read it all, as it covers a number of areas, but is well worth reading.

This style book for the moment is a work in progress, and will be on the website for a consultation period of around three months. A pdf version is being designed and will soon be available for download via The Telegraph's site. I'll be looking for it when it comes out.

It will also be published as a hard copy.

Image is that used on the Telegraph's style book webapge as referred to above. No name given.

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The web discussion following the comments on Tuesday by Horace Engdahl, the permanent secretary of the Swedish Academy, the organization that awards the Nobel Prize in Literature,when he gave an interview to The Associated Press, has been much more enlightening than the comments of themselves. In one blog I read, a comment was made about the irony that a Swede was talking about the Americans being insular, 'Sweden is not even part of NATO.' The lack of historical and political sensitivity behind the remark only served to underline the original statement, in my mind. I pointed out this useful background information, the CRS report for Congress on the position of European neutral countries.

Charles McGrath in the New York Times, writes a wonderfully insightful article, including some perspective on the background to the prize and its history. He also remarks...
"The Swedes read, you have to give them that — they buy more books per capita than the citizens of just about any other country — and they probably care more than anyone else does about their prize. In the United States, a Nobel usually doesn’t produce even the modest uptick in sales that a Pulitzer or a National Book Award does. That fact may underlie Mr. Engdahl’s comments, and especially his observation that we don’t translate enough foreign literature. It’s true. We don’t."

Read the full article here.

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"As I got back into my car to sit and drink my coffee before driving again up the droning M4, a burgundy family car pulled up in the space in front of mine. A muscular, shaven-headed man in his late thirties got out of the driver's door, marginally slower than a well-built woman who emerged from the passenger's side, in a whirl of flapping white knitted cardigan, and calf-high black boots. Her floral dress was pretty, suburban, totally inappropriate. She gesticulated wildly and I heard mutterings through my windshield. They each hauled a girl, (one four, one fourteen months in my estimation) out from the back doors and proceeded to strap them into neon pink walker harnesses. The kind of thing that looks more appropriate on seeing-dogs for the blind. Then the woman slammed the door shut, said something I couldn't hear and stormed off towards the restaurant area and shops. The fourteen-month old stood marionette-like, her straps hung loose, and she was motionless, waiting for instructions. The man shouted across the car park,"Well you can just effin' find your own way home then, eh?" The four year old was bundled back into the car. The toddler started to wail as she too was de-harnessed and strapped back into a car seat once more. He stormed round the bonnet, waving the keys wildly in his hand, and reached the driver's door."

In real life he opened it, rested his arms on the frame with his head down, waited a few seconds and then went to the trunk. He opened it, got out a baby bottle, filled it with pre-mixed formula milk and took that together with a carton of juice to the children in the back seat. He sighed a lot. He spoke gently to the girls, and then they came out again, and walked at their own pace, in the direction the presumed-Mum had gone.

But what if he hadn't? What if he had indeed driven off? Where would she have gone? Where can I use this?

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This Friday my photo is to remind myself to look all around for inspiration. Ann Kelley told me recently, "Put it all in. It's the little, everyday things that are so vital to a writer, like a bee buzzing at the window."

Don't forget to look up.

This is the ceiling light of one of the hotels in Vegas. I love its colours.

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Thursday thought was prompted by the BBC announcement of a major new series on religions for BBC Two. Presented by Peter Owen Jones, Around The World In 80 Faiths will explore the astonishing diversity of the world's religions.

- It sounds fascinating. Being in the UK recently I was struck by the bias in the radio news reporting. A man was charged with the Terrorist Act, not simply stated what crime he faced in the dock. I was appalled at the seemingly deliberate abuse of the news for propaganda style language and creating an atmosphere of fear, in a relatively simple news item. But then I am reminded of the wonders of the BBC when I hear of something like this, which holds the promise of diversity and enlightenment that not every country in the world would be free to produce, never mind capable of.

Makes we wish I lived in the UK, for these kinds of insightful documentary series.

Part-time Anglican Vicar, Peter Owen Jones embarks on an epic challenge – to travel the globe and observe and take part in the most important rituals of 80 of the world's faiths.

On the way he'll be exploring some of the planet's most beautiful and holy places: he'll be meeting snake handlers, Voodoo practitioners, whirling dervishes, horse-riding Sikhs, shaman and Taoist monks seeking immortality.

He will also be participating in some truly remarkable events, including an Aborigine baby-smoking ceremony, exorcisms, a séance, a Christian healing, Muslim Prayer, a Hindu cremation and Zoroastrian wedding.

Pete will start his journey in the Far East, followed by Australasia and Africa.
From there he will travel through the Middle East, North America, South America, the sub Indian continent and finally Europe.

From the great massed festivals of Christianity, Hinduism, Islam and Buddhism, right down to rituals practised just by remote tribes, and from religions half as old as time to brand new cults and sects, this eight-part series will bring a genuine understanding of the deep diversity of human spirituality.

The series has been commissioned by Adam Kemp, Commissioning Editor for Arts, Music, Performance and Religion, and is being made by the BBC's in-house Religion & Ethics team.

Adam Kemp says: "Around The World In 80 Faiths is BBC Two's biggest ever religious landmark series and underlines the channel's commitment to bold, pioneering peak time religious output.

"Peter Owen Jones is a remarkable, entertaining and insightful guide to the extraordinary diversity of faith on earth."

Executive Producer, Jean Claude Bragard, adds: "It's a privilege working with Peter Owen Jones – he's a warm, entertaining and passionate guide to the extraordinary lengths people will go to for their beliefs."

The series producer is Graham Johnson who is also a director alongside Sian Salt, Tom Sheehan, Karen Selway, Rob Cowling and Kevin Jarvis.

Filming for Around The World In 80 days started in January and the series will be broadcast early in 2009.

I'll have to get someone to record it.

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Walker Books is dedicated to creating the best stories and pictures for children everywhere and this Autumn even more children will be able to enjoy them.

For EVERY book sold through the Walker Books website in September and October, Walker will donate a brand new book to Book Aid International.

Book Aid International was founded in 1954 to promote literacy in developing countries, providing reading and learning opportunities for disadvantaged people throughout the world and helping them in their fight against poverty. Since then, it has sent over 25 million books to libraries in the developing world! Book Aid International works in twelve countries in sub-Saharan Africa, and over ninety-five percent of their work supports this extremely poor region. The organisation also works in other countries, for example helping to re-stock libraries in conflict and post-conflict situations, and in the wake of natural disasters.

How will my donations help?
Children's books always feature in Book Aid International's partner countries' top-three priorities, and most of the children's books sent are picture books. Book Aid International also provides school and public libraries with supplementary reading materials such as encyclopedias, atlases, dictionaries and fiction. These are essential for consolidating what pupils learn in class and developing their literacy skills.

Through local partner organisations, Book Aid International focuses on the most disadvantaged communities to give more people the access to information that they so desperately need. So for example, in rural areas, solutions for reaching some of most isolated people in the world could include using motorcycles, donkeys and even camels as mobile libraries. But its work with partners goes beyond book provision: the organisation also offers training and support for librarians and has provided training in leadership, advocacy and fundraising as well as practical skills for librarians, like targeting and distribution and reading promotion.

Book Aid International’s work is about supporting sustainable and creative solutions over the long term. Most of us remember a book that changed our life: and the books that Walker will be donating to Book Aid International will
now touch the lives of even more children and will continue to do so for generations to come; which is why Walker is delighted to work with Book Aid International this autumn.

Read more about Book Aid International and the great work they do here.

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Tuesday tip - take some inspiration and advice from poets, whether you are one, or not:

John Hewitt held a '30 poems in 30 days' over at Poe War. The September themes and advice range from practical tips on meter and rhyme, ideas for inspiration, and submission to the challenge "poets are liars".

Click here to see the final list.

Poets and non-poets will find something of interest.

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Patrick Ness's first novel for teenagers won this year's Guardian children's fiction prize.

The Knife of Never Letting Go, published by Walker Books, is the first book of a trilogy, Chaos Walking, and ends on something of a cliffhanger. Ness has already written the second, out next May, and is working on the third; his adult writing is taking a sideline for now. "I'm kind of helpless about it. I have to write whatever's next in the queue," he said in The Guardian.

I've reviewed the shortlisted 'Before I Die' over at The View From Here Magazine.It has been an honour and pleasure to work with Jenny Downham on an interview as well, which will appear later in the week in two parts.

If you haven't read 'Before I Die' yet, read all about it. And buy it. It won the Branford Boase 2008 prize and was sold in ten languages within two weeks of publication acceptance. It offers insights both for and into young adults, into relationships and offers other writers a vast array of examples of straightforward writing, well done, to bring over a challenging and authentic story with drive, passion and precision.

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My local Sunday story, is about Diana Gabaldon - the first author, published author, real, living-and-breathing-whose-books-I-loved author, whom I met. She presented 'A Breath of Snow and Ashes', book six in the Outlander series (romantic epics about a modern(ish) thirty-something Englishwoman who time-travels back to 18th-century Scotland and the adventures that thus ensue for the rest of her life), to a packed hall of mostly women, in Munich, Germany in September 12th, 2005. Barbara Schnell, her German translator had worked so well with her and whose last name is 'quick', the German version was in print before the English one - it was a German worldwide premiere event!

Since the books are based around the adventures of Claire and her Highlander Jamie, and some plots are set in Scotland, she was piped in and out of the reading/ signing event, by the Claymore Pipe & Drums band. I was delightedly in the third row, my lucky number. Coincidentally, one of the pipers in the band had played at my wedding. It was a sign, I was sure. I could follow my dream and become a writer too.

She was humorous and well-spoken at the event, and patient whilst much of the session was translated to and from German. She had obviously answered every question before, so when few questions came at the audience participation stage, she volunteered FAQs from other events, and answered them, too.

As I nervously slid my hot-off-the-press hardback onto her signing desk at 11pm, I just about managed to ask where she was going next on tour. "Chicago". She was gracious and smiled. She was obviously tired and would have much rather had two people waiting, than the two hundred there. But she still gave the impression, not only does she know her readers are her bread-and-butter, but she genuinely appreciates them and their feedback, albeit, in appropriate measure. And when I left, hugging my signed book harder to my chest than a school girl on her first day, the line was still at about 80 yards long. She works hard.

Now, three years on and writing, while I appreciate that she is an experienced and professional author who writes well, somedays it still does me good to think there is nothing so significantly different between people who want to write, and who do write and get published, except for the getting on with it. (With the usual pre-requisites of writing well, a good story and agent/publisher approach and so on.) She is a no-nonsense realist, and I'd imagine completely from my own assumptions, has a sharply critical voice when she needs it, with her own writing and editing. She is a writer. She writes. She writes a lot. Her novels are vast, and their fan club, even bigger. She writes non-fiction too, books to accompany her Outlander series, a spin-off Lord John series, and other unrelated works.

She is simply an inspiration to write what you enjoy, research what you don't know and get on with it.

The next book 'An Echo in the Bone' is expected to be completed by the end of 2008 and released in late summer 2009 . Excerpts are available on her website, (see the excerpts tab).

To glimpse a little of the character behind a woman who writes funny and adventurous romantic fiction with meticulous detail on historical Scotland, USA, France, Pacific islands and farming amongst much more, here's some of the answers she gives about a 1997 People Magazine article, which showed her husband in a kilt, and how the photo shoot was set up, amongst other things.

The photographer wanted it (the computer) to look as though I were working (ha), but since real words on the monitor wouldn't show up in a photograph (particularly in view of the fact that the computer couldn't be plugged in from the position where he placed it), he took several randomly selected words from the Shakespeare's Wit-Kit of magnetic poetry that we keep on the refrigerator, and pasted them to the screen with small loops of duct tape. To the best of my recall, the words were: SCURRILOUS, SCANDAL, PAUNCH-BELLIED, TRADUCE, SWINE, BOGGLE, and INSATIATE, though I wouldn't swear to it.

In short, this photo bears no resemblance whatever to reality, save for illustrating the fact that my husband must love me very much, or he wouldn't have agreed to be party to this nonsense.

A toast to Diana Gabaldon who lives on the other side of the Atlantic from my birthland of Scotland, may your laughter be as deep as the ocean, and your troubles be as light as foam.

And I must find a quote from Jamie for the wall, to tell me to get my breeches up and get on with it, or words to that affect.

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In Guangzhou, a man watered rows upon row of crabs-for-sale. Rubberband bound claws and bodies, prevent serious movement, but periodic, minor jerking in random directions makes the whole stacked shelf appear to shudder, ever so slightly.

A first line?

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"We have a right to make use of our pens, as of our tongue, at our peril, risk and hazard." Voltaire

One of the world's literary greats, Vaclav Havel was also pivotal to the transformation of the Czech Republic into a functioning democracy after the fall of Communism. A renowned playwright, Havel served as president of the Czech Republic until 2003. In his newly-published memoir, To the Castle and Back, he describes these extraordinary times. Havel will be interviewed by John Tusa on Saturday 27 September, at 3pm, an English PEN organised event.

He was the tenth and last President of Czechoslovakia (1989-1992) and the first President of the Czech Republic (1993-2003). He has written over twenty plays and numerous non-fiction works, translated internationally. He has received the US Presidential Medal of Freedom, the Philadelphia Liberty Medal, and the Ambassador of Conscience Award.

Although Havel was popular throughout his career, his popularity abroad surpassed his popularity at home. He is no stranger to controversy and criticism. An extensive general pardon, one of his first acts as a president, was an attempt to both lessen the pressure in overcrowded prisons and release those who may have been falsely imprisoned during the Communist era. Critics claimed that this amnesty raised the crime rate. However, according to Havel in his most recent memoir To the Castle and Back, the statistics do not support that allegation, since most released would have been released within a year.

In an interview with Karel Hvíždala (also included in To the Castle and Back), Havel states that he feels his most important accomplishment as president was the dissolution of the Warsaw Pact.

Venue: The Auditorium, The British Library, 96 Euston Road, London, NW1 2DB

How to book: Tickets cost £6; £4 discount. Call 01937 546 546 or visit the British Library Box Office.

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Today the Guardian Children's Fiction Prize 2008 Winner will be announced. It could be one of four shortlisted books and authors:

Cosmic, by Frank Cottrell Boyce
The Knife of Never Letting Go, by Patrick Ness
Bog Child, by Siobhan Dowd
Before I Die, by Jenny Downham.

The Young Adult market is as demanding and exciting as any other, and since 'crossover' books, such as The Curious Incident of The Dog in The Nighttime, or even Harry Potter, writing for teens does not have to mean writing only for teens, but writing good, challenging and unique stories, which can reach beyond the age group and its contemporary market.

Each of the shortlisted books appears to do that, including the subjects of knife crime and the premature teen death and illness of Tessa in Jenny Downham's 'Before I Die.'

Do you feel your writing is appropriate to pitch at a YA/crossover market? How do you know if your writing style is suitable for a YA market? Who can tell you what YAs like to read? Who better to ask, than Nikki Heath, British School Librarian of the Year 2008. I interviewed her, for The View From Here Magazine. Come over and read what she has to say - on Friday she gives her eight excellent tips for writers of YA books.

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Alan Gibbons has initiated a ‘Campaign for the Book’, against library cuts and closures, which now has several hundred signatures. In his own words:

In the last ten year period recorded by auditors the book stock in public libraries fell 26%. During a similar period the number of library staff fell 13%. School libraries are being closed around the UK and replaced by shiny ICT suites when we should be integrating the book and the computer in a managed symbiosis. Finally, our children are reading fewer whole books and more excerpts, not because of the pressure of ICT but because the curriculum has been designed that way. The less well off suffer disproportionately in such a situation.
People’s reading habits are changing but not just because of the relentless march of the computer. Sadly, the erosion of the quality of many school and public libraries and the marginalisation of reading for pleasure in the curriculum are at least equally to blame.
That is why I have launched the Campaign for the Book supported by Michael Rosen, Philip Pullman, Anne Fine, Sue Palmer, Beverley Naidoo, Toby Litt and 400 others. The gold standard is a society where people are equally at home reading deliciously long, challenging books and the computer screen. It is something we may have to fight for.

The signatories of his Charter commit themselves to campaigning for the following:

1. The central place of reading for pleasure in society

2. A proper balance of book provision and Information Technology in public and school libraries

3. The defence of public libraries and librarians from attempts to cut spending in a ‘soft’ area

4. An extension of the role of the school librarian and a recognition of the school library as a key engine of learning.

5. The recruitment of more school librarians. It is a national scandal that less than a third of secondary schools has a trained librarian

6. The defence of the professional status of the public and school librarian. Opposition to downgrading. In some places this has reduced librarians’ salaries by up to half

7. The promotion of reading whole books in school rather than excerpts

8. A higher profile for reading for pleasure in schools, including shadowing book awards, inviting authors and illustrators to visit, developing school creative writing magazines

Supporters of the Campaign for the Book do not see themselves as competitors with professional associations, trade unions and existing library or school campaigns. We seek to create a national network to help coordinate the efforts of all who want to protect the status of the book and reading for pleasure. We will offer our support to local campaigns and initiatives.

It is time to stand up for reading.

It is time to campaign for the book.

For further information contact Alan Gibbons at: [email protected] or see his website / blog at http://alangibbons.net/

Alan Gibbons has been writing children's books for seventeen years. He is the winner of the Blue Peter Book Award 2000 'The book I couldn't put down' for his best-selling book Shadow of the Minotaur. He was a judge of the 2001 Awards.

He has also been shortlisted for the Carnegie Medal in 2001 and 2003 and twice for the Booktrust Teenage Prize. He has won the Blue Peter Book Award 'The Book I Couldn't Put Down', the Catalyst Award, the Leicester Book of the Year, the Angus Book of the Year, the Stockport Book Award and the Salford Librarians' Special Award. His books have been published in Japanese, German, Italian, French, Thai, Spanish, Danish, Dutch, Swedish and other languages.

Alan has been a teacher for 16 years, working with KS1, KS2 and KS3. He has made numerous visits to schools and libraries, colleges and education conferences. He is a popular speaker at the Edinburgh Festival, the London Book Fair, the Northern Children's Book Festival, the Hay-on-Wye Festival, the Cheltenham Festival and many others.

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Phyllis Mary Erskin Briggs was born in Bexhill-on-Sea, East Sussex, to British parents who met while working in the Caucasus. Her childhood was spent in Paris where her father was chaplain of Christ Church in Neuilly-sur-Seine and of the British hospital in Paris. Orphaned in her early teens and brought up by an aunt and uncle in northern England, Briggs took up nursing in Manchester and subsequently at King’s College London. Her passion for travel took her to Malaya.


Her captivity featured in the television series Tenko (the answer required from prisoners at daily roll call), in the book, Women Beyond the Wire by Lavinia Warner and John Sandilands, published in 1982, and in the film Paradise Road.

She returned to nursing in Malaya in June 1946 and in 1947 was married to Robbie Clifton Thom, who became head of the Malayan Police Special Branch and, subsequently, a security officer in British Guyana, before independence. When her husband died in 1967 she settled in Bournemouth where she was a volunteer for Barnardo’s. She is survived by two daughters.

Phyllis Thom, nursing sister and prisoner of the Japanese, 1942-45, was born on June 14, 1908. She died on September 16, 2008, aged 100. RIP.

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Here's something I found from around 20 years ago. Old artwork might be something to inspire you, whether your own sketch, photo or a flea-market find.














Perhaps it captured a moment? Why was the subject selected? Where has it been all these years? Who has passed by and viewed it? Note to self: use other art forms in writing to inspire.

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Here's a new word for the day.

HYPONYMY

Pop over to John Hewitt's blog to read more or try out his poetry prompt..."I’d like to talk about hyponymy for two reasons," he says. "The first reason is that it can be a fun thing to play with in your poetry. The second reason is that it is the only word I know with three Ys in it. Hyponymy is the use of subsets of related words, most of which have a superordinate (parent) term."

"Today’s Poetry Prompt
Either use a set of hyponyms as the structure for your poem or write a poem around the phrase, “He was blue, she was a rabbit.” Either way, I look forward to seeing what you come up with."

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September 16th was the 40th anniversary of the introduction of first class British postal service and two-tier stamp system.

"1968: The first day of the new two-tier postal system has had a mixed reaction from the public, with some queuing to buy the new 5d first-class stamps and others complaining the new system makes sending letters more difficult.

The Post Office is promising overnight delivery for letters with a fivepence stamp on, while fourpence buys you a slower service." BBC History Archive.

2008: latest Royal Mail stamp news: At the closing ceremony of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, the Olympic Flag was symbolically handed over to London, who will host the Games in 2012.

To mark this historic event, Royal Mail and China Post have joined forces to produce a joint stamp issue featuring four stamps celebrating the historical and modern architecture of each city. The UK stamps are available in a miniature sheet.

The Miniature Sheets went on sale in the UK on 22nd August, while their China counterparts, featuring the same images, went on sale in China two days later on the day of the handover ceremony.

I used to collect stamps, and I enjoy the concept here, as well as finding the artwork of the architecture from London and Beijing used, very stylish. More miniatures ver at Rebecca Ramsey's blog of yesterday (here).

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Here's a great tip from Nathan Bransford, literary agent with Curtis Brown, posted yesterday.

He writes, "Impatience sits on your shoulder and messes with you at every stage of the publishing process.

Writing: "You're totally finished!"
Revising: "Who needs revisions, it's perfect!"
Research: "I'll just call an agent to ask how to write a query letter."
Querying: "E-mail blast!!!!!!!"
Following up: "Two weeks to read a partial??? Time for an angry e-mail!"

But perhaps the most dangerous period where impatience can affect your judgment comes when you are offered representation and are trying to decide on a course of action."

I read his entire post. Then I read it again. Slowly. I made a mental note: remember it for future. Nathan Bransford shares his time and advice generously to authors on his blog. Probably the best blog I know for aspiring authors and would recommend to everyone.

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Agatha Christie was born today, 118 years ago, on September 15, 1890, in Torquay, Devon.

Previously undiscovered self-made recordings were announced today. The reels of tape, over 13 hours long, were discovered by the author's grandson in a cardboard box at Christie's former home in Torquay.

Only a handful of recordings of her voice are known to exist - including a 1955 interview for the BBC and a 1974 recording for the Imperial War Museum Sound Archive in which she recounts her experiences in a World War I dispensary which gave her a working knowledge of poisons - something which would be exploited in her murder mysteries.

There are some insights into her family life in the tapes and she explains that Miss Marple shared many characteristics with her own grandmother.

Christie said of her grandmother: "Although a completely cheerful person, she always expected the worst of anyone and everything. And with almost frightening accuracy [she was] usually proved right."

Her grandmother would say "I shouldn't be surprised if so-and-so was going on," Christie said. "And although with no grounds for these assertions, that was exactly what was going on."

I was inspired by this story, and it underscored once again, something I heard at a poetry workshop last week in St.Ives, hosted by Ann Kelley (Costa Childrens Fiction winner 2007 - The Bower Bird). She encourages writers to seize the moment, capture the ideas and images of the everyday. She introduced us to a poem by Raymond Carver, titled "Sunday Night". It begins...

"Make use of the things around you.
This light rain
outside the window, for one..."

Now, what was it my grandmother used to say?

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This Friday's photo, was taken in Scotland, on the A9, not far from Pitlochry. It could be so wonderfully interpreted - Red squirrels watch out what you're doing! Red squirrels (as opposed to green ones?). I did then indeed see one on the road about 100m further on. Squirrel car-jackers? The possibilities are endless.

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"Humour marks important stages in the child’s intellectual development, and so do books, but only a humorous book provides that uniquely accessible combination of education and enjoyment." Alastair Clarke, author of The Pattern Recognition Theory of Humour (Pyrrhic House)

The inaugural Roald Dahl Funny Prize was announced today by the reading charity Booktrust. The Roald Dahl Funny Prize is the first prize of its kind; founded to honour those children's books that simply make us laugh.

What is the role of humour in a child's development? Defense mechanism? Social interaction? Do children want to read funny books?

See my full article at The View from Here News.

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Andy Murray's win against Rafael Nadal in the semi-final of the tennis US Open tonight, just shows the success that determination and self-belief, coupled with natural talent and hard work can achieve. Back in his home town of Dunblane, Murray's grandmother Shirley Erskine spoke of her delight.

She said: "I am just so proud of him, I thought it was absolutely amazing.Nadal came out and just played superb tennis but Andy stayed with him and made it through. He's worked so hard this year and trained so hard and he really gave it his all and got a just reward.

He is in with the big boys now, but he has nothing to fear because he has beaten Federer before. If he goes out and plays as he did with Nadal he'll be fine."

Whether we are writers or sportsmen, or seek success in another field, let's be inspired by the champion play of Andy Murray. He now meets defending champion Roger Federer in the final. Whatever the final outcome, well done Mr. Murray!

Picture: Andrew Brownbill/AP

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This Wednesday's post sees a diversification in style to join in Rebecca Ramsey's celebration of Wonders Across the World, in honor of her 115th post and because it's her birthday. Birthday Cake and blog-hopping fun to be had by all, how could I say no? So before I begin, "Happy Birthday Rebecca". Sorry I am not here in person today, as I'm in the remote Highlands of Scotland, but I'll be back at the weekend to address comments and admire everyone else's posts from today, taking part in this wonder-ama party.

I took inspiration from two things:
1) Rebeccas's wonder of last week the raisin, and
2) in the everyday, and looked around me.

I live in a pretty wonderful area. I live near these big bumps.


The Alps.

They formed over a long period of time, starting around 30 million years ago, when the two tectonic plates of Africa and Europe collided with one another, and instead of one plate dominating and going under, they pushed up nappes, or folds of rock - a bit like sewing when the machine stitches more slowly than you feed the fabric in your fingers, the resistance on both sides forces up folds.


One wonderful aspect of living near mountains, is the Alpine climate - Snow in winter

provides opportunity for winter sports and the warm summers and Fall, great produce.



And in the Alpine countryside, we have beautiful and typical alpine scenery:
...Fields, waterfalls, lakes.




In the fields we see...
...Flowers Pictured is the Gentiana acaulis - the stemless gentian - the name makes me think of a man with no legs. (Did you know? The Gentian appears on one side of the Austrian € 0.01 euro coins - our 1 cent).

...Cows

(Did you know? Braunvieh cattle imported to the United States in the 19th century were the origin of the modern Brown Swiss cattle breed?)

...Horses

(I think this one was smiling at me)
...and Camels.

Er,... camels?

Camels. With two humps. Bactrian camels.

Let me introduce you to Sultana.(You thought I'd forgotten the raisin link from Rebecca's blog here, eh?)


It's a recent development in a nearby field, a local company is offering camel rides. So we now have Bumps and Humps in Bavaria. They seem to enjoy it here, even though their natural habitat would be somewhat less green. (Did you know?: Large wild populations are found in the deserts & plains of China, Central Asia, and ....Australia.)

And, think the humps are filled with water? Nope - it's fat. According to homeworkspot.com, ..."the humps on a camel's back are actually huge heaps of fat and flesh that can weigh as much as 80 pounds in a healthy camel. These humps help camels survive for weeks without food and water."

They look happy enough, as well as camels can - look at these tails in action:


Other camel facts:
* An adult camel weighs between 700 and 1,500 pounds (318 to 680 kg) and is up to 7 feet (2.1 meters) tall.
* Camels can live to be up to 50 years old.
* Camels gestate about 11 months and give birth to one calf.
* A male reaches maturity in five years, a female in three to four years.
* Camels have three eyelids! Two of them have lashes, and the third is thin.
* A camel can close its nostrils.(helps to reduce moisture loss in dry climates)
* A camel, like a goat, will eat almost anything.
* Pack camels can carry loads of 400 pounds 25 miles (181 kg 40 km) in a day.

Did someone say camels were ugly? Well, yes, perhaps. They are renowned for spitting too. So if you're ever feeling old and ugly or think you have fat in odd places, just think of the Alps and the camels - in comparison, we're all young and beautiful.

Rebecca, I hope this is wonderful for you -- I can't wait to read the others -- whether weird or wacky, beautiful or breathtaking, heartwarming or hilarious as you say; there are so many everyday wonders around us, we just need to remember to stop and smell the flowers, even the Gentiana acaulis, sometimes. Hope you enjoyed my scenic tour: The wonders of Bumps & Humps in Bavaria.

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From the writing competition on August 3rd, in which the requirements were that it be 100 words or less and feature a bookmark, RealitySlams from Malaysia sent in this beautiful entry. She won a book from the list offered by the UK Year of Reading.

Here is her story:

*****

"As any artist knows, any feelings conveyed while performing the art would be felt by its audience.

And so, with feelings of love and tenderness, he started carving on the thin aluminium plate a fine pattern that lifted, dipped, and curled. He worked on it almost without lifting the carving blade, his concentration unwavering. Thirty minutes later, the bookmark was done. Making certain the corners were blunt and the surface rid of carving dust, Gibran called out to his four year-old grandson Khalil, whom he hoped would take up the love of reading.

As he has."

*****

In her few words I am given a very clear picture in my mind first from a distance, then viewing the bookmark from above as the carver does. The detail of his action adds to the portrayal of the carver's character, showing us his skill, his conscientiousness and care for his grandson. And it is for me, filled with emotion, passing on skills between the generations, full of the hopes for the future. A very worthy winner. Well done RealitySlams!

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Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No, it's a mini LEGO man!
On August 25, 2008, the LEGO minifigure celebrates his 30th birthday!

Despite the ongoing maintenance, I can't miss this momentous day and a post to wish this icon of my lifetime many happy returns.

Always a super hero, the mini-figure can help you be whomever you want to be – from a rescue firefighter to an astronaut to a deep sea diver to a race car driver, and various Hollywood film characters! Check out this video to celebrate all of his adventures.

The world has changed a lot in the last 30 years and Miniman has changed with it.
See the original seven, and compare to your favorites of today - he's been everything in between. Today's figures seem tied into films, Indiana Jones, Star Wars, Batman. However it's good to see the classics still remain; as the City character of 2008 reflects. The challenge of modernising the Classic, is something I discuss in a series of three articles this week, over at The View From Here News Section, in relation to the Enid Blyton Costa award. Seems to hold true for LEGO man too - perhaps the original has not become a modernised model, but a clone in name only, and the LEGO film figures, are really a different toy and stand alone like the original Star Wars or Batman figures. If so, it could be another example of promotion using an existing brand to extend the market and not to update existing models. Sounds just like the new Enid Blyton books, announced yesterday.

Ninety-five percent of all households in Belgium with kids up to age 14 own LEGO products. Austria's LEGO penetration percentage is about 90% and in Denmark, it is at 92%. LEGO is manufactured by the Lego Group, a privately held company based in Billund, Denmark. The company name Lego was coined by Christiansen from the Danish phrase leg godt, which means "play well".

Check out the LEGO website for games, downloads, and cool tidbits of info, like the fact that there are over 4 billion mini-figures in the world today, and 3.9 of them are sold every single second, of every day, of every year! Happy birthday, Lego Miniman!!

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